Undeterred by Arrival of Turkish Military the Syrian Army Continues Advance, Cuts Key Highway, Reaches Edge of Saraqib

The deaths suffered by Turks in a Syrian artillery barrage on the outskirts of Saraqib has risen to eight, with seven military personnel and a civilian contractor. The Russian military explained the deaths in a night-time barrage on a Turkish convoy were not inflicted on purpose, instead, the Syrians believed they were firing on HTS (al-Qaeda). This sounds perfectly plausible to me. As long as the Turkish posts are failing to stop the Syrian advance, the Syrians are better off bypassing and isolating them, than taking them on.

And oh my are the Turkish posts failing to stop the Syrian army advance. Undeterred by a new round of Turkish reinforcements and four new posts around Saraqib, the Syrian army has continued its march northward. It has now shored up its right flank, enveloped Saraqib from the west, and cut the M4 highway, placing it just 8 kilometers from Idlib city itself.

The rebels appear somewhat broken. Along with the preceding gain of Maarat al-Numan these are some of the easiest/swiftest gains the Syrian army has been able to make against them.

East #idlib : #SAA free Tall Mardikh, Ebla, Tall al Agharr, Bulaysa, Judaidah Tal Khatrah, Tuwayl al Halib, Al Mushayrifah, Tall Sultan, Baris, Tawil ash Shaykh, Ras al-Ayn, Shouha + Kafr Amim from #Jihadists v @watanisy pic.twitter.com/VPlX3Mq9t4

— Emmanuel (@EmmanuelGMay) February 4, 2020

Today, #SAA took control over 25 new places in #Idlib as rebels start the withdrawal from the area until their positions N. Abu Dhuhur-Saraqib road. 41% of #Idlib province under #SAA control. 5th Turkish outpost about to be encircled by Syrian soldiershttps://t.co/oAzIAHBikE

— @Suriyak (@Suriyakmaps) February 4, 2020

Saraqib battle is expected to begin in the next days. #SAA will try to encircle the town by cutting most of supply rebel routes forcing militants to withdraw towards Aleppo & #Idlib cities. However, Turkish presence may force rebels to put some resistance inside Saraqib pic.twitter.com/I0ra3E0ZYu

— @Suriyak (@Suriyakmaps) February 4, 2020

Previous:

• Syrian Army Offensive Envelops Large Strategic Town, Cuts Key Highway, Encircles Another Turkish Outpost
• Erdogan Rages Against Russia and the Syrian Idlib Offensive Steamrolling Al-Qaeda
• Syrian Army Advances to Outskirts of Uber-Strategic Town of Saraqib, Erdogan Threatens “Military Force”
• 6 Turkish Soldiers Killed by Syrian Artillery, After Turkey Rushes Troops Protect Al-Qaeda